In this edition of Get to Know, we are pleased to introduce Rob Fader, a member of ASPE’s Raleigh Chapter.
ASPE: What is your greatest accomplishment outside of your career?
Rob: Being a car fanatic ever since I can remember. One of my lifelong dreams was to tour Jay Leno’s car collection. I’d never been to the West Coast, so my wife and I planned a vacation to LA for a week in June 2019. After two letters and a few phone calls starting in February, Jay made my dream a reality. We got to meet Jay very briefly beforehand and then had a two-hour tour of his collection. It was awesome! We played tourist in LA all week and saw a lot of sights while we were there. None of it compared to those two hours though, and it’s something I’ll never forget.
ASPE: What are your hobbies outside of work?
Rob: I spend the majority of my time playing beach volleyball, but other hobbies include golf, motorcycle riding, and target shooting.
ASPE: What is your favorite type of music, band, and song?
Rob: I like most genres of music. My standard go-to tends to be country followed by rock. I like so many bands and songs it’s impossible for me to pick a favorite. If anyone heard my playlist, they’d probably be surprised at the wide variety mix that doesn’t really go together.
ASPE: What do you do to relax?
Rob: Taking a ride on the motorcycle or a drive in the car is relaxing to me. Otherwise, I’m on the couch with my wife, the dog, and the cat, watching a movie.
ASPE: If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Why?
Rob: Anywhere that is tropical and warm year-round would be my pick. I’m not a big fan of winter or cold weather and prefer a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops to a sweater, long pants, and boots any day.
ASPE: What is your favorite meal? Is it prepared at home or found at a restaurant?
Rob: I’m an old-fashioned meat-and-potato guy, so a nice steak is my favorite. Whether it’s from a restaurant or grilled at home, I’m not picky.
ASPE: What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?
Rob: Beach volleyball and golf are my favorite to play, but college basketball is my favorite to watch. College basketball is really big in my area, and I live within 15 minutes from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), Duke, and North Carolina State University (NCSU). I’m a longtime UNC Tar Heel fan, and even though college basketball is my favorite to watch, I can’t play basketball for anything.
ASPE: If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
Rob: Easily the 1960s. Things just seemed to be so much simpler back then. To me the 60s was the golden era of sports cars, muscle cars, and hot rods. Back then even cars were simpler, combining power with an elegant artistic appearance. While today’s cars are more technically advanced, which I like, they are more complicated, and most lack any uniqueness.
